Emperor’s Domination

“I understand. Your released karma can create lords, heroes, and of course, bastards. They will compete and break everything, eventually reaching an implosion where they all die.” The old man nodded.

“Or, maybe a stalemate can last forever. Regular beings won’t be able to survive.” Li Qiye smiled.

“What if you just die?” The old man joked.

“Then it would be an even larger and more monstrous karma running free. The world can’t bear it.” Li Qiye said.

“Because a bastard such as yourself will come back to life somehow and retake the world.” He said.

“I have returned everything belonging to this world, I won’t take a single thing.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Not if you die, everything will change then, but that’s only if you die.” He said.

“Death can be a type of happiness, right? Don’t have to pick whether to accept fate or not then.” Li Qiye said.

“What about the villainous heaven?” He asked.

“I was certain I would kill the villainous heaven or make him eat dirt.” Li Qiye said: “But that’s changed.”

“To what?” He asked.

“The truth is that when you call us bastards, you also know that you’re a bastard as well. You refuse to accept your fate yet walk on the path of acceptance. This karma has to be paid sooner rather than later. I am like this, the villainous heaven is like this, and you are no exception.” Li Qiye said.

“Bah, who’s accepting fate? It’s not like I have a death wish.” He spat on the ground.

“The decision is in your hands.” Li Qiye said: “You may choose now.”

He lay in silence while Li Qiye didn’t bother him.

After a long time, Li Qiye finally asked: “Got a decision?”

“Damn it, damn it! You bastards can go to hell, every last one of you!” The old man jumped up and cursed.

“If only it were so simple. Of course, it can be simple for you though. On the path of acceptance, just refuse, then everything will be perfect for you and your true self, karma too.” Li Qiye said.

“I just want to do nothing, how about that?” He responded.

“If that’s the case, I can help you as well.” Li Qiye said.

“Permanently?” He asked.

“That depends on you.” Li Qiye said: “You know this all too well, it’s the reason for anima and the dao heart.”

“I don’t need this shitty dao heart.” He cursed.

“Without the dao heart, there wouldn’t be you and the associated karma.” Li Qiye shrugged.

“You can cut it down.” He said.

“Yes, and with that, give you the kind of laziness you desire.” Li Qiye said.

“Most likely won’t be permanent though.” He paused for a moment before sitting down again.

“The chance is not non-existent.” Li Qiye said: “There are just some things that latch on like leeches, like the true self.”

“Bah, that’s not what I want to hear.” He said.

“I’m just giving you the whole picture, the choice is still yours.” Li Qiye smiled and didn’t rush him to make a choice.

His head held low, seemingly lost in rumination.

After a long while, he raised his head, revealing bitterness and sorrow as if he were about to cry: “I want to be myself, my true self.”

“My true self.” Li Qiye could not help but let out a wistful sigh.

“This is who I am.” He smiled bitterly.

“Yes. When you stepped onto the path of conquering the heaven, this was already you. You thought you could live a life that belonged to you, that you could be the one in control. Yet even knowing you shouldn’t do so, you still set foot on the road, because that’s who you are.” Li Qiye said.

“You are the same despite being the true self?” He asked.

“Yes, although I do have choices, I want to be myself, no different from the dao avatars.” Li Qiye said.

“I see, so ultimately, the true selves have to accept fate while walking the road of not accepting it.” He said.

“Well said.” Li Qiye nodded.

He let out a sigh before standing up and staring at the light source: “Free him.”

“Are you sure?” Li Qiye stood up as well.

“Yes, because it’s the same. Freeing him is the same as freeing me. If you free me now and I run, I’ll return one day to free him because that’s my true self.” He said: “It will be even more difficult without your help at that point, a worse life to suffer. I don’t want to waste time when the conclusion is the same.”

“You don’t think there’s a different path?” Li Qiye chuckled.

“Did your dao avatar manage to escape? Maybe temporarily, but not forever. This was the same for the villainous heaven too, the avatar had to return and kill himself. If it weren’t for your interference, he would have to rise again to complete the villainous heaven’s mission.” He said.

“Makes sense, so when I didn’t spread the dao, he had to.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Could have just done it yourself.” He sneered.

“This is just karma. When you reach your cultivation realm, dao avatars become possible. Otherwise, mortals can’t have dao avatars.” Li Qiye said.

“There’s a reason for everything with you all. Forget it, come, start so I don’t have to see you anymore from now on.” He arched his chest.

“Everything will disappear.” Li Qiye became emotional and bowed slightly: “Old man, this is goodbye.”

“Yes, goodbye to my shitty life, it’s finally over.” He said sentimentally: “Shall we begin?”